Digital Cadastral Records A New Zealand Experience
It was then necessary to take all the paper plans of the system into the digital environment, and to convert all existing titles and all existing surveys so that they could form the basis of the new recording system, while retaining their integrity as the old record. An existing digital cadastral database (DCDB) - which had acted as a computerised survey record sheet rather than as an authoritative survey and title database, proved to be of enormous value in providing a foundation for the conversion of surveys and titles to digital form.
Business Drivers
The decision to integrate the previously separate survey and title agencies was a key trigger for Landonline. The paper processes between and within these agencies were becoming increasingly unwieldy and the secure archiving of paper records was an increasing burden.
The users of the survey and title systems were increasingly operating with digital data and found the conversion to and from paper records expensive. Improvements in survey technology made the coordinate errors in the digital cadastral database more apparent to users. It was increasingly expected that the time taken to process a land transaction should be decreased.
In addition, the government was introducing policies to improve the access, and particularly electronic access, by citizens to government held information.
Major Global Drivers
A programme to redesign and rebuild the nation's survey and title systems will only be undertaken rarely. Therefore it is important to consider the long term trends that can be seen in the global environment. This provides confidence that the new system will endure and will prepare the nation well for operating in the international community.
Some of the trends and drivers in the international community are population growth and urbanisation, which lead to environmental stresses and resource depletion. As a result of these, there is an increasing need for more efficient and effective national/regional land administration systems.
Other Global and National Drivers
Several other global trends have been reflected in New Zealand and already had a significant impact. The development of modern and open economy in New Zealand created the environment in which this project was not only viable but expected. From 1984, New Zealand society had undergone massive change and the economy had restructured to free market forces and remove government from what should have been the business of private enterprise.
Alongside this, technological advancement was rampant. The surveying profession had easily absorbed computers, from the early development of hand-held calculators to total stations, GIS and GPS and automated plan drawing equipment. In contrast, the plan lodgement, checking and approval system had remained much as it had been since the 19th century. This was therefore quite out of step with the rest of the digitalised, computerised business.
In addition to the specific advancements of the professional environment, the world had moved into facsimile machines, mobile phones, the personal computer and the internet. Access to information, and the ability to store it, manipulate it and retrieve it at will had all become part of the normal way of life.
There had also been a growing demand for access to information held by central agencies. In some cases so that it can be verified and/or challenged if required, but also that it is available for use by anyone with the expertise to access, interpret and utilise it.
Finally in the past, there had been a blurring of responsibility between government agencies and land professionals. A re-designed system would help to clarify individual responsibility and contribute to self determination.